Hot Springs

[speelunker]

While on vacation with the fam in Hot Springs I was impressed with the number of old buildings. Has anyone ever explored any? The roof of the Arlington hotel would be a major score. Also took the bathhouse row tour, and the guide stated that a creek was covered in the early part of the century and it runs under the sidewalk in front of the bathhouse row. Anyone know about this?

[bugo]

http://www.nps.gov/hosp/expanded/newhot ... twater.htm

The first bathhouses, which were constructed in the late 1830s, were really little more than brush huts and log cabins placed over excavations cut in the rocks to receive hot water that flowed from the springs. More elaborate bathing facilities soon developed, and a complicated series of wooden troughs was constructed to convey hat water from the springs on the hillside to bathhouses located on the valley floor. These bathhouses were built along the east bank of Hot Springs Creek. Some of he tufa covering the hillside was excavated and removed to make room for them. The visitor of that time would cross over Hot Springs Creek via a bridge from the narrow street which ran the length of the valley. The creek, however, had a tendency to flood and was muddy during wet weather, foul during dry.

Most of the springs are covered over, and their water now runs through underground pipes rather than filtering down over the hillside. Hot Springs Creek flows through a tunnel beneath Central Avenue. The valley floor has been filled in to make it flatter and wider. Large areas of tufa have been removed or covered over. Exotic varieties of plants have been introduced into the area.

Hot Springs Creek crosses under US 70 to the east of the junction with AR 7 (Central). You might try following the creek upstream (north) from this point.

[LevyRat]

No no, hit it from the north side of hot springs national park and follow it downstream south. I went in there. made it about an eighth of a mile and had to pop a manhole. the water in the creek is about 120 degrees, and the air in the tunnel is super hot. take lots of water and wear light clothing. expect to sweat alot, and be careful. the rocks are covered in algea.